Switch-actuating mechanisms



July 7, 1959 I. TREPANIER 7 2,894,081

SWITCH-ACTUAT'ING MECHANISMS Filed May 13, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet' 1 i 1/-INVENTORI BY I l5 6 ATTORNEY5 y 7 1959 TREPANIER 2,894,081

SWITCH-ACTUATING MECHANISMS Filed May 13, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORBY gym MW ATTORNEYS July 7, 1959 TREPANlER 2,894,081

SWITCH-ACTUATING MECHANISMS Filed May 13, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q7: 2 :ib

United States Patent SWITCH-ACTUATIN G MECHANISMS Ivan Trepanier,Waterbury, Conn., assignor to Lux Clock Manufacturing Company, Inc.,Waterbury, Cnn., a corporation of Connecticut Application May 13, 1957,Serial No. 658,808

13 Claims. (Cl. 200 -38) This invention relates to electricalswitch-actuating mechanism and more particularly to a mechanism to beemployed with a timer for timing operations of various kinds and, whileit is not limited to such an application, it is illustrated inconnection with clock or timing mechanism.

In connection with timers for various operations, it is desirable thatthe timing mechanism shall open and close a switch at predeterminedintervals. In many instances timers are so arranged that the mechanismmay be set by turning an indicator hand Which'sets the timing mechanisminto operation, and after a given period of time a switch will be openedto cut off electrical current to the load circuit for example. If thetiming mechanism is also operated electrically, usually the openingofthe switch at the end of the period for which the timer is set will alsocontrol the current delivered to the timing motor.

A switch-actuating mechanism for opening the contacts of a switchcontrolling an electrical circuit should desirably operate with a snapaction so that the contacts will be broken quickly in order to preventarcing between the contacts. It is, therefore, contemplated by thepresent invention to provide switch-actuating mechanism which, when itreaches its switch-opening position, will insure a snap action of thecontacts to quickly break the current so that no arcing will result.

In elfecting this result by mechanism which is rela tively simple andeconomical to manufacture, a circular cam is provided having a followeradapted to drop into a recess or notch in the cam at the proper time,and thus permit the opening of the switch. The arrangement is such thatthe movement of the follower into the recess in the cam will be effectedquickly and not gradually so as to bring about instantaneous opening ofthe switch contacts.

The cam is illustrated as being actuated or rotated by a clock mechanismwhich in this instance is electrically driven. However, the clockmechanism may, of course, be spring driven and effect the same resultand, if it is desired, the cam member may be operated by hand and willeffect opening and closing of the switch contacts.

One object of the present invention is to provide an efiicientswitch-actuating mechanism which is economical to manufacture and whichmay be readily employed in connection with a timing mechanism.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a switch-actuatingmechanism of the character described which may be manually set to closethe switch and which is provided with a setting and indicating mechanismcapable of rotation through substantially 360 degrees.

Still another object of the invention is to provide timing mechanism foractuating an electrical switch at a predetermined time, which mechanismshall be positive and instantaneous in its action and at the same timebe economical to manufacture.

2,894,081 Patented July 7, 1959 Still another object of the invention isto provide a timing mechanism of the character described above whereinthe indicating mechanism may be set to a position in which the switchwill be closed until manually operated, the timing mechanism beinglocked against operation.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features andcombinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a timer embodying my newswitch-actuating mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the timer shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line S5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the parts in anotherposition;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the parts in the position inwhich the switch is closed;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in the positionin which the timing mechanism is locked against movement;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the cam follower which actuates theswitch; and

Fig. 11 is a simple form of wiring diagram showing both timer and loadcircuits controlled by the switch.

To illustrate an embodiment of my invention I have shown in the drawingsa timing mechanism comprising a dial 1% having timing indications 11thereon, which dial may be carried by a casing 12 secured in turn to amotor casing 13 which contains motor mechanism to drive the timing shaftto be hereinafter referred to. It is understood that the motor mechanismmay be either a spring motor or an electrical motor as desired.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4, the motor output shaft is indicated at14, to which shaft is secured a pinion 15 meshing with a gear 16 looselymounted upon the timing or indicator shaft 17. The gear 16 isfrictionally connected to the shaft 17 by means of the resilient spider18 which has a hub portion secured to the shaft 17 and radiallyextending spring arms 19 which bear against the gear and frictionallyconnect it to the shaft.

The indicator shaft 17 extends through the casing 12 and the dial 10and, as shown particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, has rigidly secured uponits outer end an indicator 22 which may be manually grasped so as tomanually turn the shaft 17 and set the indicator at any desired positionrelatively to the dial 11. It will be understood that when the shaft 17is thus manually rotated the gear 16 is allowed to slip upon this shaftso that rotation of the latter is not transmitted to the pinion 15 andshaft 14.

Secured to the shaft 17 so as to rotate therewith is a cam disk 21which, as shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 9 of the drawings, is provided with aV-shaped notch or recess 23 in its periphery, the cam being otherwise ofcircular shape. It will be noted that the sides of the V-shaped recessare relatively flat so as to provide moderately inclined surfaces for apurpose to be hereinafter set forth.

A substantially U-shaped spring member 24 (Fig. 5) has its bight portionembracing the shaft 17 and the arms of this U-shaped member extendoutwardly toward the periphery of the cam where they are provided withlaterally extending ends 25 and 26 projecting into the \'-shaped recess23. Normally the inherent resilience of the arms of this U-shaped membermaintain the free ends of the laterally turned portions 25 and 26 inclose proximity, as shown in Fig. 5, although either of the arms may bemoved outwardly so as to cause these ends to spread apart, as shown inFig. 6.

This U-shaped spring member 24 is supported at its inner end by a lug 27struck from the cam disk which holds the bight portion of the springmember against the shaft 17. The arms of the member are slidably guidedin spaces 28 (Fig. 3) between the cam disk 21 and wings 29 upon a guidemember 30 which also may be struck up integrally from the metal of thedisk 21. While this construction effectually holds the spring member 24in place, it permits movement of the ends of the arm thereof within thespaces 28, the inherent resilience of these arms normally holding themin the position shown in Fig. 5.

The switch mechanism, as illustrated, comprises a base 31 preferably ofinsulating material in which spaced contacts 32 and 33 are provided.These contacts are adapted to be closed by the bridge member 34 carriedupon a leaf spring 35, the ends of which lie below lugs 36 upon the base31. The latter is carried by spaced supporting legs 37 secured to thecasing 12.

Slidably mounted between the legs 37 is a stirrup member 38 havingprojecting lugs 39, the lower surfaces of which are adapted to bearagainst the legs 37. Slidably mounted in the stirrup 38 is a plunger 40urged upwardly by the spring 41 so that its upper end is in contact withthe lower surface of a bead 42 secured to the lower surface of thespring 35.

With this construction it will be noted that the spring 35 is normallytensioned to hold the bridge plate 34 in the position shown in Fig. 3where the switch contacts are open and the stirrup member 38 rests uponthe sup ports 37. However, if the stirrup member 38 is raised into theposition shown in Fig. 9, it will compress the spring 41 and thus urgethe plunger 40 upwardly to move the bridge plate 34 to the positionshown in Fig. 9 in which the contacts 32 and 33 are closed. It will bealso noted that, as shown in Fig. 9, after the contacts have been closedan additional or overthrow movement of the stirrup member 38 ispermitted, which movement may further compress the spring 41. Thisinsures that the contacts will be fully closed and at the same timepermits this overthrow movement to make allowance for tolerance in themanufacture of the parts of the mechanism.

A cam follower is provided to engage the periphery of the cam member 21and actuate the switch bridge plate 34 to close the contacts 32 and 33,this follower being adapted to engage the stirrup member 38 for thispurpose. This follower is shown in Fig. 10 and comprises a substantiallyU-shaped member having a base 44 and an upwardly displaced laterallyextending arm 45 at one end provided at its side edges with pivot lugs46 and 47. As shown in Figs. 3 and 9 these pivot lugs are pivotallymounted in openings 48 in the opposite walls of the casing 12 so thatthis member is permitted a pivotal movement about these lugs. The bodyportion 44 of the follower extends in front of the cam 21 and at itsfree end is provided with an offset arm 49 having a lower surface 50adapted to extend over the periphery of the cam member and, when thelatter is in the position shown in Fig. 3, drop into the V-shapedopening 23 of the cam. The width of the laterally extending end 49 ofthe follower is of a dimension to permit this member to drop between thespaced opposing ends of the arms 25 and 26 as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

The normal or rest position of the parts thus far described is shown inFigs. 1, 3 and 5. It will be noted that the cam follower 44 is in itslowermost position in the recess 23 and the contact member 34, thestirrup member 38 and associated parts are in their lowermost positionsin which the switch contacts are open. In this position the indicator 22points to on the dial. if it is desired to set the timer to close theswitch and open the latter after a predetermined period of time, theindicator is moved, thus rotating the shaft 17 and cam 21. This movementmay take place in either direction as the movement is not transmitted tothe motor owing to the frictional or slip connection between the gear 16and the indicator shaft 17. The indicator is, of course, moved toindicate the proper interval of time during which it is desired that theswitch be closed.

At the beginning of this movement, assuming that the indicator is movedin a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. l, or a counterclockwisedirection, as shown in Fig. 6, one of the arms of the spring 24 (theright-hand one as shown in Fig. 6) will be cammed outwardly from itsnormal position to permit the end 49 of the follower to ride upwardly onthe gently inclined edge of the V-shaped recess 23 in the cam. As soonas this arm of the follower reaches the periphery of the cam, thisdisplaced arm of the spring member 24 will be released and will returnto its original position due to its inherent resilience. Raising the arm49 of the follower to the position shown in Fig. 7 upon the periphery ofthe cam will raise the stirrup member 38 and elevate the contact member34 to close the switch contacts 32 and 33. Thus this switch will beclosed at the beginning of the setting movement and a continued movementof the cam member through substantially 360 degrees will continue tohold the follower arm in its elevated position and hold the switchclosed.

Normally the switch contacts 32 and 33 will close the contact throughthe load circuit whatever it may be and, if the timer is operated by anelectric motor, it will also close the circuit through the motor. Themotor runs only in one direction and will rotate the indicator 20 in acounterclockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 1, regardless of thedirection in which the indicator may have been originally moved to itsset position. This will return the indicator to its starting positionupon the expiration of the time period indicated on the dial.

When the indicator is returned to its 0 position, the cam 21 whichrotates with the indicator will also be returned to its originalposition shown in Fig. 5. Upon return of the cam to this position thefollower 49 will not ride down the incline of the side of the V-shapedrecess 23 but will ride upon the arm 25 of the spring member 24 (which,of course, turns with the cam member) until the arm of the followerreaches the relatively narrow opening between the ends of the arms 25and 26, at which time it will drop into the recess 23 between thesearms. This sudden release of the cam follower will permit the spring 35to open the switch with a snap action which would not be the case if thefollower gradually descended into the recess 23 upon one of the inclinedsides of the recess. Thus while one of the arms of the spring 24(depending upon the direction the shaft 17 is turned) is permitted tospring away from its normal position to permit the arm 49 to ride upgradually out of the recess 23 without undue resistance when, at the endof the timed period, the parts are returned to their initial positions,the cam follower will drop suddenly into the recess and thus open theswitch with a snap action.

It will be understood that, if it is desired, the indicator may berotated in either direction by hand and thus the switch may be actuatedmanually, if desired. In such evelillt the timing or clock mechanism maybe dispensed W1 When the switch mechanism is used in conjunction withtiming mechanism, it may be found desirable to close and open the switchwithout employing the timing mechanism, and to this end means isprovided to lock the timing mechanism against movement so that once theswitch is closed it will remain closed until the cam is manuallyreturned to its initial position.

For this purpose a second output shaft 52 (Fig. 4) is provided in themotor casing, which shaft is positively driven by the motor as is theshaft 14 previously described. Upon the end of this shaft is secured atoothed wheel 53 (Fig. 3) which is disposed within the casing 12. Alatch member 54 is pivoted at 55 in the casing 12 and is provided with alaterally turned end 56 adapted to engage the teeth of the wheel 53 andprevent rotation of the motor and, therefore, prevent actuation of theindicator shaft 17. This latch member 54 is urged toward position toengage the wheel 53 by a spring 57 reacting at one end against a part ofthe casing 12 and engaging at its other end a lug 58 upon the latchmember 54.

This latch member is also provided with a laterally extending lug 59(Figs. 3, and 9) which, when the parts are in their position of rest, asshown in Fig. 3, is adapted to ride upon the periphery of the cam 21 andhold the latch member out of engagement with the teeth of the wheel 53..As will be seen from Figs. 3 and 5 which show the parts in the positionof rest, the lug 59 engages the periphery of the cam at a point adjacentthe edge of the V-shaped recess 23 and, as the latch member is held inits inoperative position, the motor is free to move when energized.However, if the cam member 21 is turned to the left, as shown in Fig. 3,or to the right, as shown in Fig. 5, the lug 59 will drop into therecess 23 and the spring 57 will urge the latch member 54 intoengagement with the teeth of the wheel 53 and prevent operation of themotor. Thus, if the indicator is turned through a small angle in theproper direction, it will move the cam 21 to a sulficient extent toclose the contacts 32 and 33 and at the same time prevent movement ofthe motor so that the switch contacts will remain closed until theindicator is manually moved from this position.

As stated the normal or rest position of the parts is shown in frontview in Fig. 3 and in rear view in Fig. 5. Upon the beginning of therotation of the indicator shaft in a counterclockwise direction, asshown in Fig. 5, the parts take the position shown in Fig. 6 where therighthand portion of the spring 24 has been cammed outwardly to permitthe arm 49 to ride up the incline of the notch 23.

Fig. 7 shows the position of the parts when the indicator has been setfor a period of 15 minutes. The follower is now riding upon theperiphery of the cam so as to hold the switch in closed position.

It will be noted that, as shown in Fig. 6, the switch may be closed upona slight movement of the cam, but due to the lost-motion connectionbetween the plunger 40 and the stirrup 38, the follower arm 49 ispermitted an additional upward movement to reach the periphery of thecam, this movement further compressing the spring 41 without anyadditional movement of the switch plate 34.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings the parts are shown in position wherein theindicator is turned in a counterclockwise direction from its restposition shown in Fig. 1. Here the lug 59 has dropped into the recess 23and the follower 49 has been raised to close the switch. The end 56 ofthe latch 54 is in engagement with the toothed wheel 53 so that rotationof the motor is prevented. The parts will remain in this position andthe switch contacts remain closed until the indicator is turned in onedirection or the other to rotate the cam' to position to raise the latchmember from engagement with the toothed wheel 53. Alternatively, ofcourse, the indicator may be turned in either direction to its 0position to open the switch. It will also be noted that with theexception of the relatively small recess 23, the indicator is usablethroughout the complete range of 360 degrees.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it willbe understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown,but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of theinvention and within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A set and trip mechanism comprising a generally circular cam memberhaving a recess in its periphery, a movably mounted cam follower havinga portion engaging the periphery of the cam and adapted to be receivedin said recess, means for rotating said cam, a resilient member attachedto the cam and having a movable free-end portion extending into saidrecess to be engaged by the follower when the cam is rotated, saidmember being deflected by the follower when the cam is rotated in onedirection to permit the follower to ride on the periphery of the cam outof said recess and thereafter returning to its original position to forma continuation of the periphery of the cam and require the follower todrop from the end of said member into said recess when the cam isrotated in the other direction.

2. A set and trip mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said resilient memberis provided with two arms having movable free-end portions extendinginto the cam recess from opposite sides thereof and symmetricallyarranged with respect to the recess to permit actuation of the followerwhen the cam is rotated in either direction.

3. A set and trip mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said resilient memberis secured to the cam at an intermediate portion of said member betweenits ends, and the free ends of said member are symmetrically arranged toextend into the cam recess from opposite sides thereof to permitactuation of the follower when the cam is rotated in either direction.

4. A set and trip mechanism comprising an essentially circular cammember having a recess in its periphery, means for rotatably mountingsaid member, a movable cam follower operating in engagement with theperiphery of the cam and normally received in said recess, a resilientmember carried by the cam and having a movable portion biased to extendinto said recess by the resiliency of said member, said portion beingengaged by the follower when the cam is rotated and deflected out ofsaid recess to permit the follower to remain in contact with theperiphery of the cam, and thereafter returning to its original positionto provide an extension of the cam surface and permit the follower toride over said portion and drop abruptly into said recess.

5. A set and trip mechanism comprising an essentially circular cammember having a recess in its periphery, means for rotatably mountingsaid member, a movable cam follower operating in engagement with theperiphery of the cam, resilient members carried by the cam havingmovable portions biased, by the resiliency of said members, to extendinto the recess from opposite sides thereof, said portions being adaptedto be engaged by the follower when the cam is rotated and deflected outof said recess to permit the follower to remain in contact with theperiphery of the cam, and said portions thereafter returning to saidpositions to provide an extension of the cam surface and permit thefollower to ride over said portions whereby the mechanism may operateupon rotation of the cam in either direction.

6. Switch-actuating mechanism comprising a pair of contacts, a movableswitch-closing member to engage said contacts, means operativelymounting said member, means for actuating said member comprising arotatably mounted cam member, a cam follower engaging said cam memberand adapted to actuate the movable switchclosing member, meansassociated with said cam member to effect snap action of saidswitch-closing member in a direction to open the switch, said cam beingmanually settable to predetermined positions to move the switchclosingmember to switch-closing position, clock mechanism to rotate said cam inone direction after it has been set, and means controlled by said camwhen set to one position to prevent rotation thereof by said clockmechanism when the contacts are engaged.

7. Switch-actuating mechanism comprising a pair of contacts, a movableswitch-closing member to engage said contacts, means operativelymounting said member, means for actuating said member comprising arotatably mounted cam member, a cam follower engaging said cam memberand adapted to actuate the movable switchclosing member, meansassociated with said cam member to effect snap action of saidswitch-closing member in a direction to open the switch, said cam beingmanually settable to predetermined positions, clock mechanism to rotatesaid cam in one direction after it has been set, and means controlled bysaid cam when set to one position to prevent rotation thereof by saidclock mechanism, said means comprising a second cam follower engagingthe periphery of the cam member, and the latter having a peripheralrecess in which an element of said second follower is received.

8. Switch-actuating mechanism comprising a pair of contacts, a movableswitch-closing member to engage said contacts, means operativelymounting said member, means for actuating said member comprising arotatably mounted cam member, a cam follower engaging said cam memberand adapted to actuate the movable switchclosing member, meansassociated with said cam member to effect snap action of saidswitch-closing member in a direction to open the switch, said cam beingmanually settable to predetermined positions, clock mechanism to rotatesaid cam in one direction after it has been set, means controlled bysaid cam when set to one position to prevent rotation thereof by saidclock mechanism, said means comprising a second cam follower engagingthe periphery of the cam member, and the latter having a peripheralrecess in which an element of said second fol lower is received, andsaid follower being adapted to engage a part of the clock mechanism andprevent movement thereof when said second follower element is receivedin said recess.

9. Switch-actuating mechanism comprising a pair of contacts, aswitch-closing member, means for movably mounting said member formovement to and from a position to close said contacts, means foractuating said switch-closing member comprising a rotatably mounted camhaving a recess in its periphery, a casing in which said cam member ismounted, a cam follower pivoted in the casing and having a part adaptedto be received in said recess, said follower being adapted to engagesaid actuating means, a substantially U-shaped spring member car ried bysaid cam and having its free ends turned inwardly to project into saidrecess from opposite sides thereof, and said ends being spaced apart toreceive said follower part therebetween.

l0. SWitchTactuating mechanism comprising a pair of contacts, aswitch-closing member, means for movably mounting said member formovement to and from a position to close said contacts, means foractuating said switch-closing member comprising a rotatably mounted camhaving a recess in its periphery, a casing in which said cam member ismounted, a cam follower pivoted in the casing and having a part adaptedto be received in said recess, said follower being adapted to engagesaid actuating means, a substantially U-shaped spring member carried bysaid cam and having its free ends turned inwardly to project into saidrecess from opposite sides thereof, said ends being spaced apart toreceive said follower part therebetween, and said actuating meanscomprising a stirrup engaged by the cam follower, a springpressedplunger mounted in said stirrup, and said plunger engaging saidswitch-closing member to move the latter to switch-closing position.

11. Switch-actuating mechanism comprising a pair of contacts, aswitch-closing member, means for movably mounting said member formovement to and from a position to close said contacts, means foractuating said switch-closing member comprising a rotatably mounted camhaving a recess in its periphery, a casing in which said cam member ismounted, a cam follower pivoted in the casing and having a part adaptedto be received in said recess, said follower being adapted to engagesaid actuating means, a substantially U-shaped spring member carried bysaid cam and having its free ends turned inwardly to project into saidrecess from opposite sides thereof, said ends being spaced apart toreceive said follower part therebetween, said actuating means comprisinga stirrup engaged by the cam follower, a spring. pressed plunger mountedin said stirrup, said plunger engaging said switch-closing member tomove the latter to switch-closing position, and spring means acting onsaid switch-closing member to urge it toward open position.

12. Switch-actuation mechanism comprising a pair of contacts, aswitch-closing member adapted to close a circuit through said contacts,means for movably mounting said member, a rotatably mounted cam memberhaving a recess in its periphery, a cam follower engaging the (peripheryof the cam and adapted to be received in said recess, said followerbeing connected to said switchclosing member to actuate the same, saidrecess having inclined side walls, a resilient member secured to saidcam member projection into said recess from each side thereof to extendover the adjacent wall of the recess, the adjacent portions of saidresilient members being spaced apart over said recess to permit thefollower to drop between them into said recess, and said resilientmembers being cammed out of said recess by said follower when the lattermoves out of said recess upon rotation of the cam member.

13. Switch-actuating mechanism comprising a switch means, aswitch-closing member, means for movably mounting said member formovement to and from a position to close said switch means, means foractuating said switch-closing member comprising a rotatably mounted camhaving a recess in its periphery, a cam follower having a part adaptedto be received in said recess, said follower being adapted to engagesaid actuating means and move it in position to close the switch means,a bowed spring member secured at an intermediate point to said cam andhaving free ends projecting into said recess from opposite sidesthereof, said ends being spaced apart to receive said followed parttherebetween and being adapted to be deflected out of said recess, whenthe cam is rotated, to permit the follower to remain in contact with theperiphery of the cam and move thereon out of the recess, and the ends ofsaid spring member thereafter returning to their original positions toprovide extensions of the cam surface upon which the follower rides andfrom which it drops abruptly into said recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,831,605 Porter -e Nov. 10, 1931 2,289,643 Furnas et a1 July 14, 19.422,528,841 Morrison et al. Nov. 7, 1950 2,670,039 Burkholder Feb. 23,1954 2,769,099 Pcterlik et al. Oct. 30, 1956 2,776,009 Tamburr -2 Ian.1, 1957 2,778,418 Laviana Jan. 22, 1957

